201 Family: Tr ipt erygi idae Pseudolabrus miles - scarlet wrasse, red soldier DESCRIPTION: The typical labrid body shape, the protruding teeth and colouration are the main distinguishing features of this fish. There are two colour phases. The initial phase individuals are red on the head and back with light red and yellow horizontal stripes on the sides and ventral surface. Fish up to 200mm long are found exhibiting this colouration. In the terminal phase the body becomes uniform red, with a distinct white patch around the base of the pectoral fins. The shape of the caudal fin changes from being square-cut in the IP, to become lunate in the TP. In both colour phases there is a distinct black bar at the base of the caudal fin. Scarlet wrasse are slightly larger than paketi, growing to lengths of 320mm and weighing 0.55-0.60kg. DISTRIBUTION: General: These fish occur in New Zealand, Chatham Islands, south-eastern and southern Australia and Japan. They are found throughout New Zealand; however, they are most abundant south of East Cape. They inhabit rocky reefs at depths beyond 10m. Local: The abundance of this labrid in the Reserve is comparatively low. They have been recorded in the Ecklonia forest and deep reef habitats at densities of 4 and 26 fish per hectare respectively. FEEDING: P.miles fossicks amongst the encrusting growth and algal holdfasts for its food. The large, forward-jutting canine teeth are used to take small animals from the substratum. Hermit crabs, crabs and ophiuroids form the major part of the diet. LIFE HISTORY: Relatively little is known about this species. There is no information on maximum age, growth rate and size and age at maturity. Sex change occurs when the fish are between 150 and 200mm in length and about 4 years old. It appear that sex change is always accompanied by colour change, thus there are no IP males present in the population. The population typically consists mainly of IP females and a few TP males. Pair spawning occurs between August and November. 202a Pseudolabrus miles ( D.ix.Tf; A.m. 10; P.12; C.16; L.I. 26.) initial phase 40 mm to 320mm Mew Zealand distribution Distribution within the Reserve r r 50- 40- O 0> JZ 30 m a 20- o n E 10- z3 ZA SBR 1 RF 8 TF 4 EF 1 SG 1 DR Habitat type V. Diet Life history patterns Brittlestars 13% Crabs L Barnacles .15% 8% Bivalves 4% | Hydroids 1 % Hermit crabs 59% 203 Family: Tr ipt erygi idae Pseudolabrus inscrlptus - green wrasse DESCRIPTION: Three colour phases can be distinguished in this species c Juveniles (< 250mm long) are green-brown fish with 10 horizontal bands of green dots running along the sides of the body. Females up to 330mm long, have a dark brown to olive green body which is covered with a scribble pattern of horizontal and vertical light green squiggles. The large males are a dark olive green with contrasting white dorsal and anal fins * These fish can grow up to 400mm long and weigh about 2kg. Individuals are home ranging. The males become more aggressive and territorial during the breeding season. DISTRIBUTION: General: The green wrasse occurs on New Zealand rocky reefs in scattered groups from the Bay of Plenty northwards. They are most common around the Poor Knights Islands. The females and juveniles lurk among the seaweed and are seldom seen, whereas the males are usually seen swimming in the open. Local: P.inscriptus is rare in the Reserve. A few individuals have been sighted in areas of shallow broken rock, where densities have been estimated at about 2 fish per hectare. FEEDING: These fish feed mainly on crabs, bivalves, hermit crabs and gastropods. The largest individuals will eat small fish such as blennies and clingfish. LIFE HISTORY: Green wrasse live for up to 20 years. Sex change occurs at 280-320mm in length and is probably always accompanied by colour change, as no IP males have been found. Little is known of the timing of the breeding season or of spawning behaviour, but both are probably similar to those of the other labrids. 204 Pseudolabrus inscriptus (D. ix.tl; A.iii.10; V.i.5.) Zealand distribution Distribution within the Reserve 5 1 ©km m 4 o 0) 3 H ® •a 2 0) J3 E 3 1 -I •2 SBR ' RF ' TF ' EF 1 SG 1 DR ' Habitat type V, Diet Life history patterns 205 Family: Tr ipt erygi idae Pseudolabrus luculentus - orange wrasse DESCRIPTION: This small labrid grbws to a maximum of 220mm long and exhibits two colour phases. Initial phase fish are found up to 170mm long and are orange with six light vertical bars extending half way down the body. Terminal phase fish are orange-red to mauve and have four black and five white, alternating marks on the back directly below the soft portion of the dorsal fin. The cheeks are tinged with green and are sparsely covered with bright red dots. In both the terminal and initial phase there is a dark blue spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Fish in transition between these two phases are usually coloured greenish-orange. DISTRIBUTION: General: P.luculentus occurs on the east and west coasts of Australia, around Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, the Kermadecs and New Zealand. The fish were first discovered in New Zealand at the Poor Knights Islands in 1969 and since then they have been recorded on the adjacent north-eastern coast. They are most common in shallow waters amongst the kelp forests. IP fish are not often seen as they are secretive and hide in the kelp fronds. TP individuals are found in more open broken rock areas. Local: Orange wrasse are occasionally seen in the shallow broken rock habitats of the Reserve, where densities have been estimated at 8 fish per hectare. FEEDING: Foraging habits and diet are very similar to other labrids. Small, hard-shelled invertebrates such as crabs, hermit crabs, bivalves and gastropods are the most commonly eaten prey items0 LIFE HISTORY: Age, growth and the age and size at maturity are not known. Sex change occurs between 150mm and 190mm in length and it is usually accompanied by colour change. Some change sex at a much smaller size and retain the IP colouration for a while, hence a small proportion of the IP population is made up of males. All TP fish are males. Breeding.occurs between August and November. Spawning behaviour is probably similar to the other labrids. 206 Pseudolabrus luculentus (D. ix.11; A.iii.10; ¥.1.5.) New Zealand distribution Distribution within the Reserve r 10 n ® <0 8 o IZ m 6 - m a 4 - d) n I- 2 H SBR ' RF ' TF 1 EF ' SG ' DR ' Habitat type J Diet Life history patterns 207 Family: Tr ipt erygi idae Bocfianus oxycephalus - red pig fish DESCRIPTION: Pigfish are easily recognised by their colour pattern and the long pointed snout. Juveniles have a white body, with 10-14 horizontal red stripes extending the length of the body. Three of these have thicker red dashes. Older IP fish retain this patterning, but the body is reddish-yellow on the head and dorsal surface. At this stage the caudal fin is rounded. In the terminal phase the body is brick red and there is a large black spot on the dorsal fin, which is surrounded with light blue. There is also a white patch on the back which extends upwards slighty into the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is lunate. The largest specimens recorded were from the Poor Knights Islands. They measured up to 430mm long and 0.76kg in weight. DISTRIBUTION: General: This species is known only in New Zealand. It has been sighted as far south as Cook Strait on the eastern North Island coast but has not been recorded on the west coast. Red pigfish are found on rocky reefs at depths of 7-70m. Local: These fish are not commonly seen in the Reserve. They have been recorded on the deep reefs at densities of 12 fish per hectare. FEEDING: Pigfish forage widely , taking a wide range of invertebrates. Small gastropods, bivalves, chitons, crabs, amphipods, ophiuroids, echinoderms and ascidians are all eaten. The long narrow jaws and sharp teeth are especially suited to extracting hard-shelled prey from narrow crevices. LIFE HISTORY: No information is available on age, growth and the age and size at which these fish reach maturity. Sex change occurs at around 250mm in length and is accompanied by colour change. There is no evidence of IP males in the population. Males are territorial with respect to other males. Aggression between males increases markedly at the onset of the breeding season. Each male keeps a harem of females within his territory. Males court and pair spawn with their females between July and September. 208 Bodianus oxycephalus (d.IX.11; A.iii.10; V.i.5.) Diet Life history patterns 209 Family: Tr ipt erygi idae Coris saodagerl - Sandager 's wrasse DESCRIPTION: This is the most markedly polymorphic of our labrids, exhibiting three distinct colour phases. The juveniles are slender fish with a white body, a yellow to red median stripe and a black dot at the base of the tail. This black dot is often a useful character to distinguish the juvenile Sandager1s wrasse from the similar sized and coloured male crimson cleanerfish (Suezichthys sp.). As the fish grow the body deepens, and at about 100mm in length the female colouring begins to appear. The black dot spreads, loses intensity and gradually disappears.